HENDERSON, Nevada (CNN) – Touring a hospital with nurses from a local union Friday, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards took time to assess Thursday night’s debate and to continue to criticize frontrunner New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

Edwards expressed frustration over Clinton’s apparent lighthearted reaction to a question about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) saying, “this is not a joking matter for millions people who have lost their jobs. And NAFTA has in fact cost Americans well over a million jobs.”

When asked if he was guilty of mudslinging with regards to Senator Clinton, he responded, “What I’ve been doing is telling the truth and I will continue to tell the truth.”

Edwards told CNN that that the biggest effect of Thursday’s debate would be that it was another opportunity for him to differentiate himself from his rivals. “A lot of Americans are really just for the first time beginning to pay attention, and there’s nothing unusual about that. They have real lives. They’re not spending their lives thinking about politics. But now that they’re beginning to pay attention, our responsibility is to make sure, in my case, to make sure that they understand exactly what I want to do in a positive way as president, and how my vision differs from the other candidates.”

soundoff(55 Responses)

I watched the debate...
I don't inderstand why most of the media, including CNN & Fox think he did a bad job. I think they are worried that he is the Candidate that will change this country for the better, upsetting some corporate "rice bowls" and giving more back to the people who are this county. When someone is questioned about facts and their position, or previous actions, it isn't mudslinging.

The economy has created over ten million new jobs. There have been 51 consecutive months of new job growth.

Edwards can keep playing the "protectionist cards" and he will continue to reinforce the impression that he is living in the past.

We live in a global economy. Putting up barriers to trade will cost us more jobs than NAFTA ever did because if we make it hard for countries to sell their products here, they will make it harder for us to sell our products there.

Edwards should ask the employees at the companies he visits how excited they would be to know that under his plans, their companies would no longe be able to sell their products overseas. He should ask these workers how they would feel watching their employers lose money and watching their jobs disappear.

Edwards' populist message sounds good until anyone with a brain and an even basic understanding of economics actually listens to it.

This guy is a clown and if he wants to "tell the truth" he should stand up and say "My policies on trade will cost each of you your job, lead to explosive inflation because we won't import inexpensive products, kill the stock market which will destroy your retirement savingsand put companies out of business. So please, vote for me." That's a message of truth.

I personally do not want to look at John Edwards for 4 years. I believe that Hillary will bring stability. One of my biggest concerns which has not been addressed is all the money we owe China. We should not owe anyone. It is bad business personally and as a nation.

There is NOT one politician that knows how to tell the truth, especially Edwards. Read a break down on where he stood on the issues as I see them and out of all, the candidates, both parties, he ranked the lowest but to listen to him, he comes across better that sliced bread. Some say the truth will set you free, Edwards is choking on that one.

The truth as you perceive it is your downfall. Instead of knocking Hillary, you all need to be knocking this disaster of a government we have now. All of you have lost sight of your goals. Keep it up and watch your numbers keep dropping. You are going to become as unelectable as McCain.

Edwards is desperate, phony, and vicious-he opposed universal health care in 2004, and now he supports it. He voted for NAFTA, and now he opposes it. Edwards's body languages do not resonate his message of populism-he indulges his own life with $400 hair cuts, 36,000 sq feet mansion, sauna, and spa...he made profits from Katrina disaster-he made millions of dollars from being a trial lawyer. He looked and sounded so bad in Las Vegas debate-I DO NOT believe he will win the nomination, because voters rejected him in 2004 twice-primary and general election. He was terrible at the debate with Cheney in 2004. The Republican nominee will tear him apart if he is nominated. He says, "war on terror" is a bumper sticker-absurd!

For some reason, I just don't LIKE John Edwards this time around. He does not seem credible..."I will continue to tell the truth.." over and over again. His truth is about whatever sin Hillary committed that day, and thus he comes off as holier-than-thou which is not attractive.

My opinion is Edwards clearly won the debate.Hillary looked awful, the only thing that helped her were her plants out in the audience who booed Edwards when ever he exposed the truth about her.
Dont pay any attention to the polls she should be in last place, Americans dont need another corporate puppit in the white house. Edwards is number one in the real polls and will win the nomination so vote for a winner vote Edwards.

None of the candidates are worth the powder to blow them to ****, but John Edwards is probably the worst...comes across like a petulant little boy upset at losing the sandbox game. What we truly need is for an Independant Populist to run...win...and turn things around.

I watched the debate and, like many others, was appalled at how CNN organized it. The whole debate obviously favored Hillary Clinton. How does CNN allow over half the audience to be Clinton supporters? It was a shame that Obama and Edwards couldn't speak at times because spectators were heckling them. It was also obvious that once again the questions were scripted in Hillary's favor ("Diamonds or Pearls?"). I was also dissapointed that Sen. Biden recieved such little face time because I feel he is the best candidate on the Democratic side. Overall I feel CNN organized one of the most unfair debates I've ever seen and contributed in making the Democratic nomination a two horse race by focusing solely on Hillary and Obama.